An Ode to the Children
Graham Campbell
“Do not grow old no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.” -Albert Einstein
“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children.” -Kahill Gibran
“But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; Do not stop them for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs.” –Mark 10:14
The older I get, the more I adore little children, in part because I have no responsibility for them. I can just enjoy them in their wonderful cuteness. I enjoy them when shopping in the grocery store. There is nothing cuter than a little one in a grocery cart basket shopping with mom or dad while they chat together. I even enjoy the dozens of daily posts on Facebook of tiny ones having fun with their parents.
That all primes me for the time in our weekly worship called “Moments of Wonder,” which other churches call by the more boring title of “Children’s Sermon.” Children and “those young in spirit” are invited to the front of the sanctuary by Pastor Katherine. It is not just the content of what is said; it is more that I am captivated by their delight, glee, and ability to celebrate when they are called forward.
My heart positively bursts open as they walk, skip, run, sprint to the front. One little girl seems particularly thrilled. I imagine she wakes up every Sunday morning delighted it is her day to fly forward to join the Pastor. There is often a boy at the back of the church, I imagine he is ‘at the ready,’ in a three-point stance for the sprint forward determined that no one will get there before him.
A mom or dad even walks a young toddler slowly to the front. As she walks by each row, she briefly pauses to see who she knows. This little one came forward first as an infant resting on her parent’s shoulder, then scooted, then crawled, and now toddles–beautiful seasons in a church life. There is also a slightly older girl who joins the group each week. And sometimes, a choir member or two slips in with them.
Their unbridled innocence, trust, and joy become a model for the rest of us. It is their key to the kingdom. And it is that which blows the doors of my heart open. The only reason that I don’t hobble forward too, as one of the ‘young in spirit’, is that I think if I sit on the stairs, getting up might be a problem. But someday, I just might do it.
Pastor Kathrine greets them all. Kids respond to the teaching, and her questions sometimes elicit funny answers, which make the rest of us chuckle. Occasionally, my sense is that the child knows they are appealing to the congregation for a laugh. (Getting ready to tell dad/mom jokes in a few decades.) It is just such a wonderful demonstration of the Good News. I’ve never seen a more whole/holy embodiment on a Sunday morning. We adults are not really very different from the children wanting to be welcomed, embraced, and loved.
Most of the congregation seems to enjoy all of this. We smile and sit in our restrained adult way. Perhaps others hear the same inner messages as I do: ‘Graham, you are an adult and need to behave accordingly.’ But I wonder where did the joy, innocence, and spontaneity in all of us go? Why don’t the rest of us rise up and stroll forward where a very surprised Pastor Kathrine will greet us? (As I write that, it occurs just how much fun that would be. Definitely pictures for the church archives.)
Actually, I might be more than a little jealous. I want my joy back, my willingness to sprint forward regardless of any self-inflicted embarrassment or my need for a cane—joy, innocence, spontaneity, with or without the ability to sprint.
And the joy in the children does not stop there. They are a lively presence in the after worship social hour. They run, play, laugh, and chase each other gleefully. And none yet have crashed into one of the elders. Greeted in love they are actually quite respectful. And NO ONE ever speaks harshly to them, instructing them to sit in their chairs like good miniature adults. They are welcomed in all their lively exuberance in this informal part of our life.
There is a great deal of speculation about what Jesus meant when he said that the Kingdom of God belongs to them. For me, it is their receptiveness, innocence, and responsiveness to Divine Love.
Inside every adult is a child who wants to be wrapped in that same love. I want my inner child back with all his receptive innocence and joy in these later years of my life.
The children are not just young members of our community but are also our role model for the Kingdom of God.
As Paul wrote in the letter to the Philippians (4:4)
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again, I will say, Rejoice.
